Congress seeks rehab for tribals displaced by airstrip

The Congress on Wednesday demanded immediate compensation and rehabilitation for 43 tribal families allegedly displaced for the construction of an airstrip in Rairangpur, located in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district.

Speaking at a press conference, Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Rama Chandra Kadam claimed that the airstrip development was undertaken without the mandatory consent of local gram sabhas or the approval of the affected families, who have lived on the land for decades.

“These 43 tribal families were evicted without due process, and shockingly, the government has even filed cases against them,” Kadam alleged. He clarified that the Congress is not opposed to development projects but emphasized that any such initiative must ensure proper compensation and rehabilitation for those impacted.

“The tribals should have been fairly compensated and resettled before being displaced. If such actions are happening in the home district of President Droupadi Murmu and the constituency of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi’s in-laws, it raises serious concerns about the treatment of indigenous people elsewhere in Odisha,” Kadam said.

He demanded that the displaced families be provided with immediate rehabilitation and a compensation package of ₹40 lakh each for the damage caused to their homes and livelihoods.

Kadam warned that if the government fails to address the demands, the Congress will raise the issue both within and outside the Odisha Assembly, standing with the affected families until justice is served.